My worst ever interview
RIPThe death of Vangelis reminds me of the worst interview I ever conducted. Vangelis had just struck a huge deal with a major label and was back in headlines after a very long doldrums.
He didn’t want to be. The next hour was so vile I thought it would never end. He was truculent, tired, possibly medicated.
Read here.
Despite my experience, friends insist he could be fun.
Chariots of fire – the world’s most irritating melody.
The odd thing about the Chariots of fire music is that it’s absolutely atrocious music but also totally works in the film. As for the most irritating melody of all time, I’m afraid that’s a tie between John Lennon’s Imagine and Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.
My understanding is that the director had already used a different Vangelis work for the film sequence, but Vangelis insisted on replacing it with the one that became his biggest “hit.” It would be a mistake to judge his work on that alone.
This blog usually has interesting and appropriate obituaries.
It happens. I had a wonderful time with a very famous actor whom many of my colleagues had found chippy on the same promo tour. My time with him was in better circumstances than some of them probably had — or maybe it was just me! Who knows? They are all human, and have their good moments and bad.
The link to the 2015 post provides a further link to the DG catalogue. Shurely shome mishtake?
Χωρίς τον Βαγγέλη δεν θα υπήρχε ο Χανς Ζίμερ.
One of my all-time favourite films is the 1982 Blade Runner. It’s wonderful in many respects, but Vangelis’ music really makes it.
Sometimes things are better left unsaid. Norman!
I listened to the interview…Mr. Lebrecht is to be commended for keeping his cool and professionalism intact under what he said were trying circumstances.
Apropos V. Lind’s comment: I once conducted a “pops” concert with a famous guest artist about whom many colleagues had warned me beforehand, due to their unpleasant experiences with him… I must have got him on a good day, as it was one of the smoothest collaborations I ever had.
Norman, I still feel badly about that one….oh well.
No worries, mate!